Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1887-02-28

spun, deep stiff linen cuffs, and white
neckerchief. John Endicotte caught
his breath at sight of her. A reso-
luton formed itself in his heart that
moment which caused the blood TO
rush with a wild passionate thrill
through his veins, then stand still
with a shiver of fear and doubt, only
to cause his lips to take more de-
termined line as he looked over TO
Priscilla.
Mary trembled at that look, and
half lost her self possession, then she
bent her attention to Jacob Browne,
who evidently imagined himself a
typical John Alden. A strange ner-
vous desire to laugh almost shook
her frame as she looked up at the
red face and heavy frame of the ''strip
ling, John Alden"
Not Captain Alden, but a lank,
lean-favored and decidedly meek
looking man, represented the staunch
little Puritan captain, Miles Stand
ish.
However, the poem went alogn
without bitches, and everybody was
interested and not inclined to be crit
ical, until there came the scene in the
cottage. AS John Alden poured forth
the praises of the captain who had no
time to WOO, and drew down the
sharp, wounded replies of the maid
en-, Mary felt a pair of dark eyes
searching her face, and just as she
uttered the words. "Why don't you
speak for yourself, John?" some
power which seemed to be beyond
her control lifted her eyes to the
minister's face. He was looking
through her eyes and down into her
heart. He held her gaze. She could
not withdraw it, while his eyes said
to her:
81 know you love me, now you
have said it."
His name was John.
Then suddenly the color flashed
like flame to the girls forehead and
over her throat and bosom. She fall
tered. All eyes were upon her. Then
her color left her white as snow. She
trembled visibly and. bowed her head.
She lifted it, bit her lips. A hot red
place came in her cheeks. John AL
den had rushed wildly away, when
Boom Boom Boom came resound-
ing sullenly on the air, sound they
knew too well. Every man sprang
to his feet.
-r-Ir vst'SV. 49,, '--->--a~~ ~.--
like thunder. "Man the life-hoat
Man the life-boat %
There were rapid robings and a
rush from the church and down the
village street toward the shore.
Oh, the sullen roar of the waters
Oh the binding of the snow! Oh,
the guns booming signal of distress
Mary, rushing down the street,
found a heavy coat thrown around
her. Then she bethought her of her
accustomed open-throated dress,
Oh, the sullen roar of merciless
waters Oh, the thought of human
creatures in peril of life in the snowy
blank and blackness of the waters
beyond And yet the girls heart
was hot within her as she dashed
through the snow mad with JOY for
that look which had said 81 love
you;" yet wildly angry that he could
have compelled her eyes to his just
as she said those words, She felt
the hot blood rush up to her forehead
with shame at the thought, even in
the cold and the snow and the wind
81 will nevec forgive him Never
never"
And then her heart smote her for
thought of self at such time, and
she ran yet more swiftly towards the
shore, The steps of a man were fol-
lowing, though she heard them not in
the snow. He wore no overcoat TO
save him from the cold.
On shore men were already light
ing bonfires to throw out light upon
the water; and lanterns, like stars,
were moving here and there. Matches
were applied to the heaps of straw
and drift-wood and tar and sea-weed,
and flames sprang to throw strange
lights and shadows on the falling
snow, and sgllen black waters which
rose and broke in white foam.
Now the life-boat is launched. Who |
will man her? How the wind blows +!
How the snow blinds and deceiyes
Who will venture life for life?
A dozen stalwart men leap in. The |
minister is with them. He takes a
hand at the oars, and pulls with the |
skill acquired in college racing clubs |
and made more practical on many a
day off shore.
What a weird scene it is A dozen |
fires throw up lurid glare, and snow |
falls kissing on the flames. Here
are women wrapped i'm the first thing |
which came to hand. One wears
mans coat immensely too large. They |
shield their eyes from the glare Of
the fires with their hands and peer
anxiously into the darkness, trying
ty follow the life-boat; trying 10 see
the struggling ship. Thlnking Of
brothers, husbands. lovers, lost at
sea, they send up silent, agonlzing